Family Life, 1924-41

What was the Soviet Union's view on family?

The Soviet Union's view on the family changed over time, from a period of more experimentation in the 1920s to Stalin's Great Retreat in 1936, which promoted traditional family values.

What were the Soviet Union views on homosexuality and family?

The USSR's views on homosexuality changed over time in 3 key ways:

• ❖ When the new communist government rewrote the Criminal Codes in 1922 and 1926, they did not include any law which prohibited homosexuality, so it was legal.
• ❖ Attitudes tended to be homophobic and homosexuals suffered verbal and physical abuse.
• ❖ Stalin's government made homosexuality illegal again in 1933.

What was the Soviet Union view on abortion and family?

The USSR's attitude to abortion changed over time in 4 main ways.

• ❖ Abortion was made legal in 1920.
• ❖ Abortions were made illegal in 1936 in a bid to boost population growth and ensure the next generation of workers.
• ❖ Many women resorted to illegal, unregulated abortions as a result.
• ❖ Contraceptives were hard to obtain.

What was the Soviet Union's view on working women and family?

Women were encouraged to work:

• ❖ There were 3 million women workers in the Soviet Union in 1928.
• ❖ This number had risen to more than 13 million by 1940.
• ❖ While around 40% of industrial workers were women, according to available figures, this still meant the majority of those employed in heavy industry were male.

How did Stalin's Great Retreat impact the family in the Soviet Union?

Stalin's Great Retreat in 1936, promoted traditional family values in 3 main ways:

• ❖ Encouraging families to have children by offering financial rewards.
• ❖ Making abortion illegal.
• ❖ Making divorce more difficult and expensive. Stalin believed marriage breakdown had led to abandoned children roaming the streets.